Aug 15
Hijrat-e-Madina (Departure from the Cave of Thawr)
Saturday 1 Rabi Al Awwal, 1448
Aug 15
Saturday 1 Rabi Al Awwal, 1448
Hijrat-e-Medina is the most significant event in the history of Islam. It refers to the migration of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ along with his close friend and companion Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, from Mecca to Medina. This historic event occurred in 622 CE, which later on was taken as the reference year for the start of the Hijri Calendar, also referred to as the Islamic Calendar. The journey from Mecca to Medina during Hirat-e-Medina can be divided into two stages.
The first part of this journey was from their home in Mecca to the Cave of Thawr, situated on the top of Mount Thawr, around 5 miles away from Mecca. Both of them first traveled to Mount Thawr and hid themselves in a Cave to protect themselves from the Quraysh of Mecca. They took refuge in this cave for three nights. After that, the next stage of their journey started from the Cave of Thawr, towards Medina, which was situated around 260 miles away from Mecca.
The second stage of Hijrat-e-Medina commenced with the departure of the Prophet and his companions from the Cave of Thawr en route to Medina. It was a historic and most significant moment of the sacred journey of Hijrat-e-Medina.
When the Prophet and his companions left Mecca, they knew that Quraysh would be trying to chase them. So, they decided to take an unconventional route, instead of the straight path. They headed towards the South of Mecca and reached Mount Thawr. They hid themselves in a Cave on top of this mountain. They remained hidden there for three days and three nights. Meanwhile, the Quraysh announced a huge bounty for those who could capture them, but none was able to trace them, as they had taken refuge in the Cave.
One of the teams tracking them came very close to the Cave of Thawr. Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ got worried and feared that the Quraysh might find them, but the Prophet assured him that Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ will protect them. This event is mentioned in Hadith 3653 of Sahih Al-Bukhari. So, the pursuers went back without any success. It was a miraculous happening, with the Will and Command of Allah سُبْحَانَهُۥ وَتَعَالَىٰ.
Both the above happenings practically hid the cave from the eyes of the enemies, protecting the Prophet and his companions.
The children of Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ played a pivotal role in protecting the Prophet and his companions during their stay in the Cave of Thawr.
The third person, who helped the Prophet and his companion during this crucial time, was a shepherd known as Amir Ibn Fuhayra. He grazed his animals around the cave, which erased the footprints of both the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ and Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ, so the enemies could not trace their presence in this area. Abdullah ibn Abi Bakr would listen to the plans of the Quraysh in Mecca by day and bring news to the Prophet (ﷺ) and his father at night. Asma’ bint Abi Bakr brought them food and supplies. She famously tore her waistband in half to carry provisions, earning her the title "Dhat an-Nitaqayn" (the one with the two waistbands). Amir ibn Fuhayra, a shepherd, would graze his sheep near the cave to erase their footprints.
Three days and nights passed, while the Prophet and his Companion remained hidden in the Cave of Thawr. With the help of information conveyed to them by Abdullah Ibn Abi Bakr, it was revealed that the immediate threat of the Quraysh no longer exists, as they had been unsuccessful in finding them. This was the right time for them to depart from the Cave on their way to Medina.
After staying there for three nights, they quietly left the Cave of Thawr during the night. They took the help of an expert navigator, Abdullah Ibn Uraiqat. Although he was a non-Muslim, the Prophet trusted him. He successfully guided them on the less common desert routes towards Medina, to avoid being tracked by the Quraysh.
Once departed from the Cave of Thawr, the direct and straight route to Medina was via Usfan, which was situated on the Northeastern route. However, on the suggestion of the guide, they took the route via Juhfah, which was situated on the Northwestern side. It was an important strategy by the Prophet, which protected them from the pursuers, as they did not expect him to take this route. Juhfa was some 180 miles away from Mecca. It is situated along the Red Sea at the intersection of trade routes to Medina, Egypt, and Syria.
The journey through Juhfa towards Medina was successfully completed. The news of the Prophet approaching Medina reached there. People of Medina used to gather at the entry point of Medina each morning in anticipation of welcoming the Prophet. They would stay there till evening and then return the next morning. Finally, one day, when they were returning to their homes, they got the good news of the Prophet reaching Medina. Everyone, filled with joy, rushed towards the entry point of Medina.
The Prophet and his companion Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ reached there while mounted on their camels. It took them around 5 to 7 days to reach here after leaving the Cave of Thawr. Their first stop was at Quba, which was situated on the outskirts of Medina. The Prophet stayed there for about two weeks. He founded the first Mosque at this place, which is known as Masjid e Quba. This also happened to be the place where Hazrat Ali رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ rejoined the Prophet, being the last one to migrate from Mecca. After staying here for 14 days, the Prophet again mounted his she camel and proceeded further.
The month of September 622 CE was a historic day in the history of Islam, when the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ finally reached Medina. It was the 12th of Rabi Al-Awwal, 1 AH. The Prophet entered Medina through the Village of Banu Salim, where he offered the Friday Prayer.
Eventually, his she camel stopped by the house of Hazrat Abu Ayyub Ansari رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. The Prophet decided to stay there. Here, the Prophet also founded the historic Mosque, known as Masjid Nabavi. On his arrival at this place, he was warmly welcomed by the people of Medina, who were then given the title “Ansar”, which translates to “Helpers”, as they were the people who actually helped the migrants to permanently settle in Medina.
This was the end of the most sacred journey of the Prophet Muhammad صَلَّى ٱللَّٰهُ عَلَيْهِۦ وَسَلَّمَ. Side by side, it also marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Islam. The first Islamic state was formally established at Medina, led by the Prophet himself.
The Prophet was being pursued by the Quraysh, who wanted to capture him along with his Companion Hazrat Abu Bakr رَضِيَ ٱللَّٰهُ عَنْهُ. Hence, they took refuge in the Cave of Thawr, waiting for the pursuit to die down.
Abdullah Ibn Uraiqa was an expert navigator who guided the Prophet through the journey from the Cave of Thawr to Medina.
Instead of taking the direct route on the Northeastern side via Usfan, they took the roundabout route through Juhfa, which was situated on the Northwestern side. It was done to mislead the pursuers.
They warmly welcomed the Prophet from the core of their hearts. They were singing a song, "Tala al badro Alaina” (طلع البدر علينا), which translates to “the full moon has risen upon us”